A Barbourville police officer was taken to the hospital Saturday after his cruiser was hit head-on by a suspect fleeing police.

Walmart officials say Jennifer Wheat, 30, of Barbourville, got away after allegedly trying to shoplift two car batteries. When the woman was taken into the back of Walmart, store officials say she shoved a store manager in her attempt to leave.

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BPD Patrolman Robert Brown inspects a bag of marijuana found in a pickup truck. Photo by Bobbie Poynter

After receiving complaints of possible drinking and drug activity in the Union Plaza parking lot Friday night, Barbourville Police, with the help of KSP officers, blocked off the entrances and performed a late-night walk through of vehicles in the parking lot. During a routine check, BPD K-9, Dusty, alerted officers to a red pickup where officers found a baggie filled with marijuana and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The owner, Zachery M. Helton, 18, of Bimble, was charged with Trafficking in Marijuana, Trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, Illegal Possession of a Legend Drug, Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia-Buy/Possess.

At the same time, in an unrelated traffic stop on Knox Street, BPD officers stopped another truck and searched it for illegal contraband. No citation or arrest was made.

Photos by Bobbie PoynterDavid Cornett helped seventeen-year-old Lindsay Wright of Raleigh, N.C. shoot the long rifle during a living history program by members of the Warriors’ Path.

By the time the dozen buses of Appalachian Service Project (ASP) volunteers rolled into Historic McNeal’s Crossing, the smell of cabbage and potatoes, along with the sweet smell of cornbread filled the air. All the food was cooking in iron pots over an open fire. The ASP workers were taking a well-deserved break from their labors of the week helping to renovate a home here in Knox County.

Historic McNeal’s Crossing in Barbourville was once one of the main arteries in and out of Knox County due to the river crossing.

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